LeBron James ‘had visions’ of joining Knicks before they won championship

NEW YORK — LeBron James wanted to play for the Knicks — until they won a championship.

James confirmed as much Monday, saying he "had visions" of finishing his career at Madison Square Garden before he signed with the Philadelphia 76ers over the summer.

"I think it's the No. 1 arena in the world, as far as for a basketball player," James told ESPN during the Sixers' media day. "But after they beat San Antonio , I was like, 'Hey, I can't.' I couldn't do it."

James, 41, has gushed about the Garden throughout his soon-to-be-24-year NBA career, even though he's passed on multiple opportunities to sign with the Knicks, most famously in 2010.

Had the Knicks not won their first championship in 53 years in June, James could have made sense for them as a missing piece.

But the optics changed for James — a four-time NBA champion who has won titles with three different teams — once the Knicks ended their drought without needing his help.

"[The media] wouldn't have let me lay that down, at all," James said. "But much respect to the Knicks, obviously. An unbelievable team, unbelievable players. Shout out Jalen Brunson . I love that guy, he's unbelievable. But, yeah, I'm happy where I'm at, and I'm looking forward to it."

Monday's confirmation came months after James' agent, Rich Paul, said on the "Game Over" podcast that the four-time NBA MVP would "be going to the Knicks" if they hadn't just beaten the San Antonio Spurs in the Finals.

At the time, James was still considering his free-agency options amid interest from numerous suitors.

James ultimately signed a well-below-market two-year, $8 million contract for a chance to compete for a championship with the star-studded Sixers, who also added Jaylen Brown this offseason to a returning core of Joel Embiid , Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe .

Still, James plans to live part-time in New York while playing his home games some 90 miles away, telling ESPN he will split time between "multiple residences."

James averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game last season with the Los Angeles Lakers .

The Garden wasn't as impressive to Spurs guard Stephon Castle , at least not in Game 3 of the Finals.

"It was underwhelming in that first game," Castle, 21, told GQ in a newly published feature. "They made it seem like it was going to be way crazier in there."

The circumstances for Game 3 — the Garden's first Finals game in 27 years — were unusual, considering President Donald Trump's attendance that night prompted heightened security and long lines to get in.

"OKC was way louder than MSG," added Castle, whose Spurs faced the Thunder in the Western Conference Finals.

The Garden atmosphere in Game 4 was much more raucous as the Knicks rallied back from a 29-point deficit and won, 105-104, on OG Anunoby 's go-ahead tip-in.

"That's the loudest I've ever heard an arena," Spurs guard Dylan Harper , 20, told GQ in that same feature.

After being fully cleared from offseason surgery, Brunson on Monday described playing through the injury in his left (shooting) wrist during the NBA Finals.

"It was painful, but I clearly could play through it," Brunson said Monday at the Knicks' media day in Tarrytown.

"Did what I had to do every single day, just to make sure I was right. Didn't think I necessarily needed surgery, so if that was the case, maybe I would have gotten it done sooner. But, yeah, I was just playing through it, didn't think anything of it, and I felt good."

Brunson won NBA Finals MVP after averaging 32.6 points per game — including 45 points in the clinching Game 5 — in the series.

Two days after he hosted "Saturday Night Live," Brunson hadn't decided on his favorite skit of the night.

"Ask me in like a week," Brunson said. "Because I still haven't really watched it, and I want to watch it."

Brunson became the first Knick and fifth NBA player to host NBC's long-running sketch comedy series.

Saturday's memorable moments included an opening monologue in which Knicks teammates asked Brunson questions from the crowd, as well as a parody of "High School Musical."

"I think his performance was fine," Josh Hart , who appeared in the monologue, deadpanned Monday. "I don't think he has a future in acting."

Karl-Anthony Towns came out of the offseason looking noticeably slimmer.

"My wife thought I looked good," the 7-foot center quipped.

More seriously, the 30-year-old Towns explained, "In the offseason, I always lose a lot of the weight. I put on the weight for the season. It's just good for my body, good for my knees. It keeps me young. I always use the offseason as a time to give my body a chance to recover, rest."